About

Janey DeMeo is a Christ-follower, inspirational speaker, author, freelance writer, pastor’s wife, mother and founding director of Orphans First, a non-profit ministry to suffering children in the world: www.orphansfirst.org. She received her M.A. from Luther Rice University, is British, speaks fluent French and “poco Italiano.”

Couple has heart for the world

When Louis and Janey DeMeo left the mission field in France three years ago, they had no idea that the mission field would never leave them. But when you spend over two decades on the foreign field, it seeps into the soul and becomes part of your DNA.

The DeMeos spent 25 years church-planting overseas — mostly in France where they founded a Theological Institute, several churches and a Christian day school. When they moved to Southern California in January 2004, they taught for two years at the Calvary Chapel Bible College in Murrieta, investing in young people and bringing some on mission trips to France, Italy, Switzerland and Spain. They then worked with a church in Fullerton for a few months before moving to Oceanside last September. Their ministry now focuses on mentoring, missions, evangelizing and helping suffering children - much the same as it was when they lived overseas.

Their plan is to go back and forth to different countries — mostly, but not exclusively, to France, Italy (where the DeMeos worked extensively) and French-speaking Africa which receives few Christian visitors because of the language barrier. Some of the churches they visit are offshoots of their original work in France. This summer may include a trip to Haiti as well, where Louis has been asked to teach.

Recently, the DeMeos returned from a trip to four countries in Africa: Ghana, Togo, Benin and Gabon, where they ministered to national leaders, evangelized, taught and took initiatives to help these churches reach out to orphans and suffering children.

Louis was also in Africa, France and Italy in November 2006, and will return again this month specifically to minister to and with national leaders in the same African countries and teach in the Theological Institute in Libreville, Gabon, where he spoke for the first graduation ceremony in March. The ceremony was televised and shown on local TV. The 13 graduates included seven pastors from diverse denominations — some even from other countries.

During recent visits, some African government officials have expressed an interest in the gospel and one official prays with Louis on the phone regularly.

A pastor and church-planter, DeMeo is also involved in several men¹s groups in the San Diego area as well as with Christian Surfers USA. He is the founder of Christian Surfers in France, where he was also the chaplain for the WCT pro-surfers tournament. Both Louis and Janey have their master¹s degree from Luther Rice University in Atlanta, where their daughter also graduates with her master¹s this month. Their two children also live in Oceanside and are involved in the Christian surf world.

Janey DeMeo is founding director of Orphans First, a non-profit ministry to suffering children in the world: www.orphansfirst.org. She is also a women¹s speaker, author and freelance writer. She has authored a few books (in French and English), and her writing has appeared in several Christian magazines in both Europe and the USA including Discipleship Journal, Focus-on-the-Family, Brio, Breakaway, Single Parent, Charisma, Sports Spectrum, Indeed (Walk-thru-the-Bible), Youth Walk, Good News, etc., Manna Good News, Assist News and World Christian.

The DeMeos also pioneered a religious liberty fight in France where they were harshly discriminated for their work - to the point of having four cars blown up on their campus the same week DeMeo testified for the Helsinki Commission. They are delighted to be in Southern California, where they enjoy being neighbors to so many Christian churches.

If you¹d like to talk to Louis about his missions endeavors, e-mail him. Visit his website.

For information about Orphans First, check the website: www.orphansfirst.org. For further questions not answered on the website email.